Fish net and method of capturing fish

Abstract

A non-collapsible fish net apparatus (31) with capturing method, comprising an endless net (33) mounted on spaced rigid hoops (37, 38) preventing collapse, a skirt (39) below the lower hoop (38) foldable on itself, apparatus support lines (45) mounted to the upper hoop (37), control lines (51) folding and unfolding the skirt (39), a draw line (62) about the skirt (39), a closure weight (57) attached to the draw line (62), and a line (58) for dropping the weight (57) farther down to close off the skirt (39). Buoys (55) on the control lines (51) provide a signal for actuating the weight (57). Corks (44) on the upper hoop (37) float apparatus (31). A wave netting (70) at the upper hoop (37) prevents fish escape in a wave cascade over apparatus (31). A quick-disconnect assembly (65) on the draw line (62) distal to the closure weight (57) opens the skirt (39) in event of apparatus overload. Apparatus (31) encompasses fish in water after which the draw line (62) is tightened by release of the weight (57), thus, capturing them.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method of capturing one or more fish found in a depth of water comprising providing an apparatus with a net assembly having an upper end and a lower end and first and second rings mounted to said net so that they are in spaced relation to one another in operation of the apparatus and with skirt means mounted to the first of said rings, the lower end of said apparatus having a closable bottom,   hovering over the fish with said apparatus, and enveloping the fish in the water through said bottom, whereby the enveloped fish do not escape through said bottom upon operation of the apparatus.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 including the step of transporting the apparatus prior to the hovering step to the location of such fish. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 2 wherein said transporting step comprises operatively connecting the apparatus by means of a cable to supporting means on a helicopter. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3 wherein said hovering takes place independently of operative connection to a water vessel. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 4 wherein said enveloping step comprises lowering the net assembly with its bottom in open mode into the water's depth about such fish, and closing the open bottom of the net assembly.   
     
     
       6. The method of claim 3 including the step of floating the apparatus. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 4 including the step of floating the apparatus. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 5 including the step of floating the apparatus. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 5 including the steps of juxtapositioning the apparatus after the closing step to a boat onto which such captured fish is to be stored,   setting in the water sack means around the apparatus, opening the closed bottom of the net assembly, and transferring the captured fish into the sack means.   
     
     
       10. The method of claim 9 including the step of floating the apparatus. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 10 wherein said transferring step comprises lifting the apparatus out of the water.   
     
     
       12. The method of claim 9 wherein said transferring step comprises lifting the apparatus out of the water.   
     
     
       13. The method of claim 7 including the steps of juxtapositioning the apparatus after the closing step to a boat onto which such captured fish is to be stored,   setting in the water sack means around the apparatus, opening the closed bottom of the net assembly, and transferring the captured fish into the sack means.   
     
     
       14. The method of claim 13 wherein said transferring step comprises lifting the apparatus out of the water.   
     
     
       15. The method of claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3 or claim 6 including maintaining the net assembly in a non-collapsed condition during its operation. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim 4 including maintaining the net assembly in a non-collapsed condition during its operation. 
     
     
       17. The method of claim 5 including maintaining the net assembly in a non-collapsed condition during its operation. 
     
     
       18. The method of claim 7 including maintaining the net assembly in a non-collapsed condition during its operation. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 8 including maintaining the net assembly in a non-collapsed condition during its operation. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim 9 including maintaining the net assembly in a non-collapsed condition during its operation. 
     
     
       21. The method of claim 10 including maintaining the net assembly in a non-collapsed condition during its operation. 
     
     
       22. The method of claim 11 including maintaining the net assembly in a non-collapsed condition during its operation. 
     
     
       23. The method of claim 12 including maintaining the net assembly in a non-collapsed condition during its operation. 
     
     
       24. The method of claim 13 including maintaining the net assembly in a non-collapsed condition during its operation. 
     
     
       25. The method of claim 14 including maintaining the net assembly in a non-collapsed condition during its operation. 
     
     
       26. A fishing apparatus comprising a first rigid hoop and a second rigid hoop,   an endless net having an upper end and a lower end, said second hoop mounted to said net at its upper end, said first hoop mounted to said net between said upper end and lower end so that in operation of said apparatus said first hoop and second hoop are fixedly spaced from one another,   skirt means mounted to said first hoop and having a closeable edge,   means mounted to said second hoop for supporting said apparatus draw line means extending around said edge and having ends,   closure means attached to one of said ends of said draw line means, and   means for actuating said closure means into movement to thereby cause said draw line means to close the edge of said skirt means.   
     
     
       27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said skirt means is foldable and unfoldable exteriorly of said net, and   means for folding and unfolding said skirt means in the open mode for the apparatus prior to actuating said closure means.   
     
     
       28. The apparatus of claim 26 including a cable, said supporting means and actuating means connected to said cable.   
     
     
       29. The apparatus of claim 26 including a cable,   said supporting means, said actuating means, and said means for folding and unfolding connected to said cable.   
     
     
       30. The apparatus of claim 28 or claim 29 wherein said supporting means comprises a plurality of lines spacedly mounted about and to said second hoop.   
     
     
       31. The apparatus of claim 28 or claim 29 wherein said actuating means comprises a line connecting said closure means to said cable, and   a first means mounted on said second hoop guiding said line from said closure means to said cable.   
     
     
       32. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said folding and unfolding means comprises   a plurality of lines connecting the skirt's edge to said cable, and   a second means mounted on said second hoop for guiding each of said lines from said edge to said cable.   
     
     
       33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said supporting means comprises a plurality of lines spacedly mounted about and to said second hoop.   
     
     
       34. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said actuating means comprises a line connecting said closure means to said cable, and   a first means mounted on said second hoop guiding said line from said closure means to said cable.   
     
     
       35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said supporting means comprises a plurality of lines spacedly mounted about and to said second hoop.   
     
     
       36. The apparatus of claim 32 or claim 33 or claim 34 including a buoy mounted on at least one of said plurality of lines connecting the skirt's edge to said cable,   said buoy when floating on the water's surface indicating that the skirt is unfolded.   
     
     
       37. The apparatus of claim 26 or claim 27 or claim 28 or claim 29 or claim 32 or claim 33 or claim 34 or claim 35 including quick-disconnect means mounted to said first hoop and operatively connected to said draw line means distally from the latter's connection to said closure means for generating slack in said draw line means to thereby open said skirt means.   
     
     
       38. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein said quick-disconnect means comprises a quick-disconnect unit secured to said first hoop and   a line having a buoy thereon and being operatively connected to said quick-disconnect unit.   
     
     
       39. The apparatus of claim 37 including wave net means mounted to said second hoop for preventing fish from escaping through the top of said apparatus.   
     
     
       40. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein said wave net means comprises an endless ribbon of netting and a plurality of corks mounted on said netting. 
     
     
       41. The apparatus of claim 26 or claim 27 or claim 28 or claim 29 or claim 32 or claim 33 or claim 34 or claim 35 including means for floating said apparatus. 
     
     
       42. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein said floating means comprises a plurality of corks spacedly mounted about and on said second hoop.